Andy Whitfield Has Passed Away

Andy Whitfield left the role of Spartacus in Starz’s Spartacus: Blood and Sand last year after the cancer he thought was in remission came back. Last I heard, Andy was responding well to treatment and they said he was getting better and might recover. They made it sound like maybe Andy would be back to getting his crotch chapped from wearing leather loin cloths really soon. But sadly, his manager told the Associated Press that Andy died of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in Sydney, Australia today. Andy was only 39 years old. From the Associated Press comes this piece of sadness:

Whitfield’s wife Vashti in a statement called her husband a “beautiful young warrior” who died on a “sunny Sydney morning” in the “arms of his loving wife.”

Whitfield — who was born in Wales and lived in Australia — was a virtual unknown when he was cast as the title hero in “Spartacus,” a hit original series for the Starz network that made waves with its graphic violence and sexuality.

Whitfield was preparing for the second season when he was diagnosed 18 months ago.

Rest in peace, Andy.